The obstacles of the ground had increased the confusion in the French ranks” The French descended the road precipitously, abandoning their hold on the village. During the course of the French withdrawal, the Russian artillery showered the village with shot and shell, which set the village on fire. The Russian recruits pursued the French furiously through the flaming streets. A frantic hand-to-hand battle began between small scattered groups. In the fury of the battle, individuals struggling together tumbled down the slope and into the flames.
Eugene still had the 15th Division under General Pino held back and intact on the far bank of the river. It advanced a single brigade into the village's left and another into its right. This division was composed of Italians who had not previously engaged in battle, and they were eager to prove their prowess. They moved forward, shouting enthusiastically, ignorant of or ignoring the danger awaiting them.
The shock of the Italian advance was more than the Russians could endure, and they were forced back. The village was reconquered for the fourth time, and the eager Italians of the 15th Division overrode the wisdom of their officers. Once again Eugene's forces pushed out of the village and onto the plain. They immediately drew the concentrated fire of the Russian artillery posted on the plain awaiting them. The Italians quickly recoiled back into the village.
The Russians, emboldened by the continual stream of reinforcements they were receiving and the failure of the last attack, moved forward once again. They moved their right forward, in hope of trapping the Italians before they could cross the bridge. Eugene had nothing left but his last reserve. This was the Italian Guard, and it was committed to the battle. He rallied the shaken remains of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Divisions for their fifth assault on the village. They advanced and swept into the village again.
Colonel Peraldi and the Italian Conscripts of the Guard charged with their bayonets lowered, throwing the Russians defending the bridge back. The smoke and fire of the burning village so intoxicated them that they continued their charge through the village and emerged on the plain above the village. They then impetuously charged the Russian batteries on the plain. They came under heavy fire and found but limited shelter in a ravine in the plain. They too recoiled into the village.
The fires in the wooden village had become so intense that the French and Italians were able to hold only the outskirts of the village. Those few remaining Russians in the village were pounded by the artillery that the French had brought into the village to sweep the interior of it clean of resistance. The battle began to die down, and the last Russian jagers surrendered their positions to the French at 11:00 P.M.
Both armies had committed about 24,000 troops to the battle. The French losses are estimated to be about 6,000, while those of the Russians were about 8,000.
Docturov retired on Kutusov's main body, taking his artillery with him and abandoning the entrenchments his troops had raised on the plain above Malo-Jaroslavets. Napoleon did little to interfere with their withdrawal other than to establish his artillery on the northern bank and fire on the withdrawing columns. Napoleon felt that Kutusov might counterattack again with very short notice. He was unwilling to commit a large force across the Lutza, where it might be attacked with overwhelming force and pinned against the steep banks of the river, where it would be destroyed.
During 24 October the French remained idle, and on the 25th Napoleon advanced with two squadrons of the Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde Imperiale as an escort. He wanted to personally view the situation and make his plans for the next events of the campaign. Suddenly a formation of cossacks appeared from a nearby woods and charged straight for him.
A swarming melee evolved and one cossack got to within twenty yards of Napoleon. Napoleon's staff officers joined into the melee in an effort to defend their emperor. Other guard units nearby advanced to join in the fray. One staff officer lost his sword in the battle and seized a lance from a cossack. Because of his nonuniform cloak and his weapon he was mistaken as a cossack by a Grenadier à Cheval de la Garde Imperiale, who ran him through with his saber. Despite the seriousness of his wound, this officer survived to return to France. The skirmish ended as the cossacks found themselves badly outnumbered and fled.
The proximity of the cossacks to the main French army and the shock of their attack combined with the bloody nature of the battle the previous day led Napoleon to reconsider his plans. Perhaps it was the fear of attempting a crossing and becoming heavily engaged, but whatever it was, Napoleon changed his plans and decided to return along his original line of advance from the Niemen.
Napoleon was unaware that Kutusov had entirely abandoned his position above Malo-Jaroslavets and even the slightest reconnaissance by the French would have advanced without opposition. His decision threw away all of the fruits of the previous day's victory and condemned his army to its eventual destruction.
Wittgenstein Begins His Offensive
To the north, Russian General Steingell marched south to join Wittgenstein as planned. On 23 September he departed Riga and moved by forced marches. Count Wittgenstein prepared to act with Steingell. He was joined by the promised reinforcements, but they were not as numerous as he had hoped for. Steingell advanced in two columns. The right column, which passed through Sebej, was composed of two battalions of the Navajinsk Infantry Regiment, two squadrons of the Polish Uhlans, and six cohorts of the St. Petersburg Opolochenie, a total of 5,322 men, of whom 3,775 were opolochenie. The second column moved on the left, through Veliki-Louki, and consisted of four squadrons of the Mitau Dragoon Regiment, the depot battalion of the Polotsk Infantry Regiment, two battalions of the 1st Marine Regiment, two light artillery companies, and six cohorts of the St. Petersburg Opolochenie. The second column had a total of 9,025 men, of whom 6,581 were militia. The Novgorod opolochenie had not organized as quickly as that of St. Petersburg and didn't arrive until later.
To cross the Dvina, Wittgenstein had to make several preparations. His force lacked a pontoon company, so he was obliged to begin assembling the required material and carts at Sivochino. Count Sievers detached his engineering colonel with the two converged infantry regiments, the pioneers, and four horse guns to prepare the material necessary for the passage near Dissna.
Generalmajor Beguiczev, commander of the reinforcement column that came through Veliki-Louki, was ordered to detach Generalmajor Alexseiev with the 1st Marine Regiment, the Mitau Dragoon Regiment, a cohort of opolochenie, and six guns. This detachment was to move on Gorodok and Kosiany. From there it was to move to Goriany, where it was to search for a suitable ford. General Alexseiev was to defend the projected bridgehead as it was constructed, as well as to cover the march of General Beguiczev.
Beguiczev moved to Nevel on 28 September. On the 29th he was in Krasnopolie, where he was met by Generalmajor Diebitsch's detachment (seven battalions, four squadrons of dragoons, and one hundred cossacks). Lieutenant Colonel Bedriagua was sent to Pridrovik with his converged hussars to act as an advanced guard for Steingell.
On 28 September the Sebej column joined Wittgenstein. The six opolochenie cohorts were disbanded and incorporated into the infantry regiments of the 14th Division and the two jager regiments of the 15th Division as replacements. Some cohorts were used as a third or reserve battalion for other regiments. These forces were ordered to be held in the second line. Any attack by the opolochenie cohorts was to be a bayonet attack and was always to be supported by the two battalions of regular infantry to which they were attached. All of their movement was to be done in column, and they were always to be screened by skirmishers drawn from the regular battalions.
On 2 October General Beguiczev remained in Krasnopolie. His advanced guard, under General Diebitsch, had been reinforced with six guns and sent to Lipova. Count Steingell continued his movement south.
Wittgenstein, hearing of SteingelFs approach, began to make preparations for the coming operations. He divided his force into three columns. The left-hand column was commanded by Beguiczev and cons
isted of an infantry battalion, eight opolochenie cohorts, and a battery of twelve guns. It totaled 6,273 men. The advanced guard of the left column was commanded by General Diebitsch and consisted of seven battalions, four squadrons, six guns, and one hundred cossacks. It totaled 2,792 men. This force followed the road from Nevel to Polotsk. The central column was commanded by Wittgenstein in person. It moved from Sivo-chino to Jourevicz. His advanced guard, under General Balk, consisted of five battalions, four squadrons, a cossack regiment, and six guns. It had a total of 3,222 men. The main battle force was commanded by General Berg and consisted of eight squadrons, eight battalions, and thirty guns. In addition, the central column had a reserve, commanded by General Kakhoffski, which consisted of four squadrons, five battalions, and twenty guns. It had a total of 3,630 men.
The left and center columns were united in Jourevicz and formed the principal corps that was destined to move along the left bank of the Dvina. The right-hand column was commanded by General Prince Jach-will and was assigned to move directly on Polotsk via the road from Sebej. It was to contain and distract the French. His advanced guard was commanded by General Vlastov and consisted of four squadrons, four battalions, two cohorts of opolochenie, a cossack regiment, and six guns. It had a total of 4,062 men.
Jachwill's main body was commanded by General Sazonov. It consisted of three squadrons, ten battalions, four cohorts of opolochenie, and sixty-four guns. It had a total of 7,351 men.
On 16 October the left-hand column reached Dretounn, while its advanced guard was in Miczoulitchi. Balk's forces were in Jartzi, and Wittgenstein and his reserve stopped in Arteikovczi. Prince Jachwill had his main forces in Sivochino, and his advanced guard was in Beloie.
Steingell crossed the Dvina at Drouia and advanced to Milacheva. General Alexeiev encountered a French detachment near Kosiany. It consisted of about 2,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry. Alexeiev attacked them and pursued them ten miles down the road to Polotsk.
The Russian advance continued, and on 17 October General Balk's forces encountered 4,000 French at Jourevicz. He was unsuccessful in his initial attempts to push them out. When General Diebitsch arrived with further Russian forces, the French withdrew across the Polota. In their haste they failed to destroy the bridge. The two advanced guards combined under the command of General Balk and pursued the French about three miles.
That evening the Russians moved into Jourevicz, where Wittgenstein established his headquarters, and there was a reorganization of the Russian forces. Seven cohorts of militia were absorbed into the four infantry regiments belonging to the 5th Division and the three grenadier depot battalions assigned to the 1st Infantry Corps. Three converged grenadier battalions were drawn from the advanced guard, as well as the twelve guns assigned to General Beguiczev's force, and were incorporated into the reserve. The reserve was then given to Beguiczev. The advanced guard was stripped of three more battalions and three squadrons, which were replaced by a cohort of opolochenie. This new advanced guard was placed under Colonel Stolypin and sent to Losovka to maintain communications with General Jachwill.
While Steingell and Wittgenstein maneuvered on St. Cyr's forces, seeking to destroy him, St. Cyr remained stationary. He had held his positions in Polotsk since 18 August. His forces had erected an entrenched camp before the walls of Polotsk. The French were strongly positioned in the city. The French camp was well provisioned and shows what Napoleon could have done had he chosen to spend the winter in Smolensk. Its barracks were built by their occupants and were more spacious than the houses belonging to the Russian peasants, They were properly entrenched and well protected from assault.
For two months the Russians and French around Polotsk had engaged in a war of small skirmishes. The French had attempted to extend them-selves over the countryside and secure provisions, but the Russians had actively stripped it bare and filled it with ambushes. This type of warfare favored the Russians, since the French were ignorant of the local language, customs, and countryside.
The result was hunger and disease, which had seriously sapped the strength of St. Cyr's forces and reduced them to about half of their original strength. At the same time the constant stream of reinforcements and replacements had doubled Wittgenstein's forces. In addition, the Bavarians had a shortage of fodder which restricted their ability to recon-noiter the area around Polotsk and give warning of the advancing Russians.
St. Cyr learned of the advance of Steingell and Wittgenstein as they drove back his outposts. He sent a pressing letter to Macdonald asking him to engage Steingell as he crossed Macdonald's front, but Macdonald did not feel himself authorized to execute such a maneuver without orders. He also mistrusted Yorck, who he suspected of having intentions of allowing the Russians to capture the French siege train. Macdonald believed his first priority and concern was this siege train, so he would not move. He also refused St. Cyr's request for 15,000 reinforcements.
This permitted the Russians to become bolder in their actions. Wittgenstein seized all the defiles through the woods surrounding Polotsk on the Russian bank of the Dvina. He threatened the French with battle, which he didn't believe they would accept.
The French in Polotsk
St. Cyr had not sufficiently entrenched himself to oppose such a large force, and insufficient works had been built to cover what forces he still had. The left of the French position rested on the Dvina and was defended by batteries placed on the left bank of the river. This battery was the strongest point in the French position. The French left was relatively weak and was separated from the main forces by the Polota River, which flowed into the Dvina to the north of the city.
St. Cyr had placed Corbineau's light cavalry brigade and three battalions of Bavarians on the left bank of the Dvina, near Bononia. They were to observe and contain Steingell. The right wing of the French line was held by Verdier's 8th Division, now under Maison. On his extreme right were two squadrons of cuirassiers, one squadron of lancers, and one squadron of chasseurs à cheval. Legrand's 6th Division was supported on the right by Maison and on the left by the Polota. Merle's 9th Division and the Bavarian divisions occupied the entrenched suburbs on the right of the Polota. There was an additional detachment of Bavarian infantry posted near Strouria to observe any Russian attack on the left.
Second Battle of Polotsk
On 18 October Wittgenstein sent his advanced guard, under General-lieutenant Jachwill, to threaten the French forces around Spass from the left, while he maneuvered to threaten them from the right. General Balk pushed the French from Gromy and advanced through the woods. The 26th Jager Regiment and two squadrons of the Grodno Hussar Regiment, accompanied by twelve guns, advanced along the road to Polotsk that crossed the Polota River. The 25th Jager Regiment and the depot battalion of the Kixholm Regiment with four guns moved past Lake Volovi. Another two squadrons of the Grodno Hussar Regiment and a cossack regiment advanced along a small road on the extreme left.
The French in Polotsk were positioned as follows: The 6th Division of Legrand was on the left bank behind the Polota. Its right wing was posted on Redoubt #7. The 8th Division, under General Maison, was to the left of the 6th Division and faced east. The 9th Division, with General Merle, was further to the left, along the right bank of the Polota. In the redoubts were four Bavarian batteries. About 600 Bavarians formed the garrison of the Struwnia Bridge, one hour's march upstream from Polotsk. The Bavarian regiment of Stròhl, formed of two weak battalions, formed the flank on the southernmost end of the French lines.
Candras' brigade, 9th Division, was posted with the 1st Swiss Regiment in the first line. Dulliker's battalion of converged voltigeurs was in an advanced post facing Ropna. The second line was formed with a converged grenadier battalion.
The 2nd Swiss Regiment stood to the left of the 1st. Fiissli's battalion was posted in the front line and Von der Weide's battalion was in the second line. The Croatians were posted further to the left.
The 4th Swiss Regiment was posted on the ramparts of Polotsk
and on the bridges over the Polota. The 3rd Swiss Regiment arrived after 3 P.M. and joined the 4th Swiss in its positions.
Wittgenstein's first advance was rather rash, and the two squadrons that St. Cyr had retained charged Wittgenstein's vanguard and overthrew them, taking its artillery and capturing Wittgenstein himself. However, a quick counterattack by the Grodno Hussar Regiment and the Converged Cuirassier Regiment forced the French back. This, coupled with the failure of the French to realize who they had captured, caused them to leave their prize behind.
The Russians then rushed from the woods and exhibited their entire force. The French advanced to attack the Russian right and center. Wittgenstein advanced the 26th Jager Regiment and reinforced them with the Sievesk Infantry Regiment. He then reinforced the 25th Jager Regiment with the Perm and Mohilev Infantry Regiments.
One of the first Russian volleys wounded St. Cyr, but he remained in the midst of his troops, even though he had to be carried about. Wittgenstein was determined to seize the French positions. The Russians advanced three 12-gun batteries to the edge of the forest. They began a lively cannonade. On the Russian left the Kalouga Regiment and the converged guard cavalry advanced along the road from Vitebsk.
The French shifted one squadron from the 20th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment and one from the 8th Chevauléger-lancier Regiment to face them. The French cavalry charged the interval between the Russian left and center. They captured Light Battery #7 and then split in an effort to widen the gap between the Russian left and center.
Napoleon's Invasion of Russia Page 34
